Microchip Technology
Assembly Line
Microchip Technology Expands Partnership with TSMC to Strengthen Semiconductor Manufacturing Capacity
Microchip Technology announced it has expanded its partnership with TSMC, the world’s leading semiconductor foundry, to enable a specialized 40 nm manufacturing capacity at Japan Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing, Inc. (JASM), TSMC’s majority-owned manufacturing subsidiary in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. This partnership is part of Microchip’s ongoing strategy to build resiliency in its supply chain. Other initiatives include investing in additional technology to boost internal manufacturing capabilities and capacity, as well as establishing more geographical diversity and redundancy with wafer fab, foundry, assembly, test and OSAT partners.
The wafer capacity supply from JASM further strengthens Microchip’s ability to serve a broad base of global customers in a variety of markets including automotive, industrial and networking applications.
Wireless Charging Enables Industry 4.0 Implementation with Mobile Robots
Modern wireless charging systems with increased efficiency and cost-optimized components have proven to be a game changer in a factory setup for a number of reasons. First, they improve productivity and reduce manufacturing costs in a variety of ways. They enable continuous operation with opportunity charging (i.e., using idle time to charge), and reduce investment since robots can be multipurposed for different operations. They also reduce human intervention because the charging process can be automated, as well as maintenance costs since connector and cables, etc., can be eliminated resulting in a completely contactless solution. Second, these charging systems increase safety and security. They remove the risk of sparks caused by connectors and short circuits due to contamination or moisture inside them.